Control means for vending mechanisms



July 16, v1957 H B. H. BAIRD CONTROL MEANS FOR VENDING MECHANISMS FiledMay 11, 1955 W H IIJIJ m in. 2 Z

JN ENTbR. Beno H. Baird f.

Q a ATTORNEYS 2 Shets-Sh eet 2 i ,B INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Benb H. Ba /rdJuly 16, 1957 B. H. BAIRD I CONTROL'MEANS FOR VENDING MECHANISMS FiledMay 11. 1953 United St t fl I I 2,199,173 CONTROL MEANS FOR VENDINGMECHANISMS Benn H. Baird, Dallas, Tex-., assignor to Atlas Metal Works,Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application May 11, 1953, SerialNo. 354,050

' 5 Claims. c1. 74-152 This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in control means for vending mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide improved control means forvending mechanisms of economical construction and efficacious, simpleoperation.

A particular object of the invention is to provide improved controlmeans for vending mechanisms which isso constructed that the movement ofbottled or other packaged articles toward a common discharge point maybe positively and smoothly regulated with minimum jarring and shaking.

An important object of the invention is to provide improved vendingcontrol means having a rotatable toothed member and coac'ting latchmeans for holding a vending mechanism in adjusted positions togetherwith a lever member having means coacting with the teeth of the toothedmember and with the latch means to impart rotation to said toothedmember for actuating the vending mechanism while preventing accidentalrotation in either direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vendingcontrol mechanism, of the character described, wherein the latch meansincludes a pair of spring-pressed elements coacting to hold the toothedmember against rotation in either direction, the lever member havingmeans for releasing one of the latch elements upon rotation of saidlever member to permit rotation of said toothed member therewith, themembers being connected to prevent rotation of said toothed memberrelative to said lever member during disengagement of said latchelement.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved vendingcontrol mechanism, of the character described, wherein thespring-pressed latch elements are opposed and coact with a common toothof the toothed member, the lever member having a pair of spaced,springpressed elements coacting with another common tooth of saidtoothed member to connect the members, one of the latch elements beingreleasable to permit reverse rotation of said lever member relative tosaid toothed member.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features I of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a i reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein an example of-the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig; 1 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of a vendingunit of the conveyor type having control means constructed in accordancewith the invention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 22,of Fig; 1, showing the relation of the control means to one of theconveyors or vending means of the unit,

Fig.3 is an exploded, perspective view of the control means, j

Figs. 4, 6 and 7 are front .elevational views, partly "ice in section,showing the sequence of operation andrelative positions of the controllever, toothed member and other elements,

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view showing the relation of the controllever and its dogs to the toothed member Fig. 9 is a rear elevationalview of a portion of the rectangular frame'of a vending unit which isrectangular.

in cross-section and which includes a back wall 11 having an upright,medial partition 12 projecting forwardly therefrom to provide a pair ofparallel storage compartments 13 and 14. The bottoms of the compartmentare,

formed by transversely curved members or bars 15 extending downwardlyfrom the partition 12 to the sides of the frame. An endless conveyor 16is disposed in each compartment and includes front and'rear endlesschains 17 and 18 supported by front and rear sprockets 19'and 20 carriedby transverse shafts 21 at the upper and lower I ends of thecompartment. The shafts 21 are suitably journaled between the back wall11 and the front ofthe unit, and spaced, upright frame members 22 extendbetween the flights of the front chains 17 and, their sprockets 19. Aswill be explained, the conyeyors coact 'and function as vending means. I

As shown in Figs. 2 and 9, the lower shafts extend' through the backwall and'have sprockets 23 and 24 fixed on their rear projecting ends. Adrive shaft 25 and sprocket 26 are connected by an endless chain 27 tothe sprockets 23' and 24 for transmitting rotation to said sprockets andtheir shafts, and an idler sprocket 28 mounted on a stub shaft 29 mesheswith said chain for reversing the direction of'rotation of saidsprockets23 and 24. Due to the arrangement of the chain 27, the conveyors aredriven in opposite directions whereby their inner flights traveldownwardly. Suitable shelves or trays 30 extend transversely between andconnect the front and rear chains 17 and18 of each conveyor 16 for I TheI supporting bottled or other packaged articles. shelves 30 of oneconveyor are offset or staggered relative to the shelves of the otherconveyor, whereby the articles supported by one conveyor are offset orstaggered with relation to the articles supported by the other conveyoras shown by the dotted lines A and B. A plate 31 extends between and issecured to the intermediate portions of I the inner frame members 22 ofthe compartments so as to overlie the partition 12 and the inner flightsof the conveyors, and has a pair of horizontally-alined openings opening33 when said articles A are misalined with said opening 32 whereby onlyone article may be removed at a time. The vending unit is adapted to bemounted in a conventional cabinet (not shown) having a service door inalinement with the access openings. 7

For controlling operation of the conveyors 16 and vending of thearticles, a mechanism 34 is provided and. includes a base plate 35overlying and secured to the frame members 22 of one of the compartmentsimmediately above its lower shaft and sprocket 19/ As shown in Figs. 2and 9, the drive shaft 25 extends through and between the plate 35 andback wall 11 and has a-ratchet" 1 wheeler toothed member 36 fixed on itsforward end in overlying relation to said plate. A plurality of spaced,

radial projections or teeth 37 are provided onthe periph-,

cry of the wheel36, shown as being in the form of a disk,

. sets4JslY 1. 19.57

by recessing or relieving said periphery on each side of each tooth at38 and 39. Each counter-clockwise recess 38 is gradual and ofappreciable length, while each clockwise recess 39 is abrupt, of shortlength and-directed; inwardly at a greater tangle (Figs. 3-8). As willbe more fully explained, a cam or raised portion 401's formed clockwiseof each recess 39 and merges into the recess 38. Although subject tovariation, five teeth are suitable and the outer end 41 of each tooth isbevelled or inclined clockwise toward the adjacent cam whereby theprojection. of said cam and the clockwise edge of the tooth issubstantially equal.

A pair of opposed, spring-pressed pawls or latch elements 42 and 43 areprovided for preventing rotation of the wheel in either direction byengaging in the recesses 38-and 39 and confining one of its teeththerebetween. The latch elements are pivotally supported below the wheelby a forwardly-directed, horizontal flange 44 at the lower portion ofthe plate 35 having upstanding lugs 45' at its end portions forreceiving transverse pivot pins 46 upon which said elements arejournaled. A suitable coiled spring 47 is confined between the flange 44and each latch element whereby the latch elements are urged upwardlyinto engagement with the periphery of the wheel. The clockwise latchelement 42 is of greater width than the opposed element 43 so as toextend forwardly of the wheel and, as will be explained, is adapted tobe depressed for releasing the confined tooth to permit clockwiserotation of said wheel.

For imparting rotation to the-ratchet wheel 36 and its shaft 25 to drivethe conveyors 16, a lever or operating member 49 overlies said wheel andis rotatably mounted on the forward extremity of said shaft by an axialscrew or fastener 50 screw-threaded in said shaft extremity. An annularboss or hub 51 spaces the lever from the wheel. The lever 49 is arced orcurved laterally whereby its upper end extends obliquely to its lowerend, preferably toward the left, so that said upper end overlies theupper left-hand tooth when said lower end is adjacent the lowest toothand the lower left-hand tooth is disposed therebetween. A. forward,overhanging shoulder 52 is provided by-increasing the thickness of theupper end of the lever and a pair of spaced, tranverse slots 53 areformed in the shoulder for pivotally supporting a pair of coacting,rearwardly-directed lock elements or dogs 54 and 55 upon a common pivotpin 56. The dog 54 is arranged to engage the recess 38 with theclockwise recess 39 being engaged by the dog 55 whereby the dogs coactto confine a tooth therebetween and lock the lever against rotationrelative to the ratchet wheel. The spacing between the dogs, however, isgreater than the width of each tooth to permit limited rotative movementof the lever relative to the wheel.

The rear portions of the dogs 54 and 55 are urged downwardly or inwardlyinto engagement with the periphery of the wheel 36 by suitable coiledsprings 57 overlying the rear portions of said dogs and confined by anangular plate 58 secured to the upper end of the lever 49 by suitablescrews or fasteners 59 in overlying spaced relationship. A medial flange60 depends from the plate so as to bear against the shoulder 52. Whilethe dog 54 is substantially rectangular, the dog 55 is of greater lengthand angular so as to have a depending portion 61 projecting below saiddog 54 and rearwardly of said dog 54 and the ratchet wheel (Fig. 2). Anarcuate or curved cam 62 is mounted on the upper right-hand corner ofthe plate 35 for engagement by the depending portion 61 to lift the dog55 out of the path of the tooth confined by the dogs (Fig. 6). The block58 has a post 63 carried by an adjustably mounted plate 64 forconnection with an external operating member (not shown). As will morefully appear hereinafter, clockwise rotation of the lever isadapted'to-be transmitted to the ratchet wheel by the dog 54 and reverserelative rotation of said lever is permitted by'the lifting-of thedog 55by the cam 62. The

dog 54 is of a width greater than the length of the recesses 39 and, dueto the provision of the wheel cams 40 and the bevelled tooth ends 41,said dog rides over the adjacent counter-clockwise tooth upon reverserelative rotation of the lever. For constantly urging the lever in acounter-clockwise direction with the dog 55 engaging the confined toothand the dog 54 spaced therefrom, a coiled tension spring 65 is connectedbetween an ear 66 carried by said lever and a bracket 67 mounted on thelower portion of the plate below the flange 47.

In order to depress the latch element 42 and release the ratchet toothengaged therewith for permitting clockwise rotation of the wheel 36withthe lever, a depending, spring-pressed pawl or release element 68 ispivotally mounted on a transverse pin 69 in a slot 70 formed in thelower end of said lever. The lower left-band or clockwise corner of thepawl 68 is bevelled or inclined as shown at 71 for depressing engagementwith the outer, upper end of the latch element upon clockwise'rotationof the lever 49. Due to the relative rotation of the lever permitted bythe space between the dogs 54 and 55 being greater than the width of thetooth confined therebetween, the latch element 42 is depressed out ofthe path of the tooth engaged therewith by the pawl 68 prior toengagement of said dog 54 with said confined tooth. As a result, thelatched or lowest tooth is released to permit clockwise rotation of theratchet wheel with the lever (Fig. 5). A suitable plate 72, whichcarries the ear 66, overlies the slot 70 and the inner portion of thepawl for confining a'coiled spring 73 which bears against and constantlyurges said pawl rearwardly against the wheel for engagement with thelatch element 42. The spring-pressed pawl is adapted to pivot forwardlyor outwardly to clear the latch element upon reverse rotation of thelever, and preferably has an inclined or bevelled inner surface 74 atits lower righthand or counter-clockwise corner for engaging-saidelement and directing said pawl outwardly.

The normal or non-operating position of the control mechanism 34 isshown in Fig. 4, and the ratchet wheel 36 is locked against rotation bythe lowest of its teeth 37 being confined between the latch elements 42and 43. Upon clockwise rotation of the lever 49, the bevelled corner 71of the pawl 68 strikes the forwardly-projecting, upper end of the latchelement 42 so as to depress said element out of the path of the confinedor lowest tooth (Fig. 5). This relative rotation of the lever ispermitted by the dog 54 being spaced from the upper left-hand toothwhich is confined between said dog and the dog 55. Simultaneously withthe release of the lowest tooth, the dog 54 rides into the recess 38 andengages the upper left-hand tooth so that the ratchet wheel is rotatedclockwise with the lever to drive the conveyors 16 through the shaft 25,sprocket 26, chain 27, sprockets 23, 24 and 28, lower shafts 21, lowersprockets 19 and 20 and chains 17 and 18. Continued rotation moves thedog 55 into en gagement with the cam 62 so as to lift said dog out ofthe path of the dog-confined tooth (Fig. 6). During this rotativemovement, the wheel is locked against rotation relative to the lever bythe coaction of the dogs. Upon lifting of the dog 55, the adjacentcounter-clockwise or lower right-hand tooth strikes and depresses thelatch element 43 so as to move into confinement between the latchelements. Consequently, the ratchet wheel is held against rotation ineither direction, while the lever is free to rotate in acounter-clockwise or reverse direction under the influence of the spring65. As shown in Fig. 7, the pawl 68 rides over the latch element 42during this relative rotation of the lever due to the bevelled surface74 as Well as the spring-pressed, pivotal mounting of said pawl. Sincethe dog 54 is of a width greater than the length of the recess 39, saiddog bridges said recess and engages the bevelled end 41 of the adjacentcounterclockwise or lower left-hand tooth before riding off of theadjacent clockwise cam (Fig. 8). Due to its narrow width, the dog 55 mayride into the recess 39 and into engagement with the tooth to confinesaid tooth between the dogs andlock the lever against rotation relativeto the ratchet wheel except for the limited movement per mitted by thespace between said dogs (Fig. 4). As will be apparent, the articles Aand B are alternately alined with the openings 32 and 33 upon successiveoperations of the control mechanism due to the offsetting or staggeringof the conveyor shelves 30.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A vending control mechanism including, a fixed member, a coactingmember overlying and rotatable relative to the fixed member, meanscarried by the rotatable member and engaging said fixed member to locksaid members against substantial relative rotation in either direction,latch means engageable with said fixed member and releasably holdingsaid member against rotation in either direction, means carried by saidrotatable member and engageable with the latch means to release saidlatch means upon rotation of said rotatable means and permit rotation ofsaid fixed member therewith, said latch means being re-engageable upon apredetermined rotation of said fixed member, means engageable with thelock means to release said lock means upon a predetermined rotation ofsaid members and re-engagement of said latch means to permit reverserelative rotation of said rotatable member, the fixed member beingtoothed, said lock means including a pair of coacting elements forconfining a tooth of said fixed member therebetween.

2. A vending control mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fixedmember is toothed, the lock means of the rotatable member including apair of coacting elements for confining a tooth of said fixed membertherebetween, the latch means including a pair of coacting elements forconfining another tooth therebetween.

3. A vending control mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fixedmember has spaced peripheral teeth, the latch means including a pair ofcoacting springpressed elements for confining a tooth of said fixedmember therebetween, the latch element in the direction of rotation ofsaid fixed member being depressed by the release means of the rotatablemember, said release means being spring-pressed to ride over saidelement upon reverse rotation of said rotatable member.

4. A vending control mechanism including, a relatively fixed member, acoacting member overlying and rotatable relative to the fixed member,means carried by the rotatable member and engaging said fixed member tolock said members against substantial relative rotation in eitherdirection, latch means engageable with said fixed member and releasablyholding said member against rotation in either direction, means carriedby said rotatable member and engageable with the latch means to releasesaid latch means upon rotation of said rotatable means and permitrotation of said fixed member therewith, said latch means beingre-engageable upon a predetermined rotation of said fixed member, andmeans engageable with. the lock means to release said lock means upon apredetermined rotation of said members and re-engagement of said latchmeans to permit reverse relative rotation of said rotatable member andwherein the relatively fixed member has teeth on its periphery, the lockmeans of the rotatable member including a pair of spaced springpressedelements for confining a tooth of said member therebetween, the spacingof the lock elements being greater than the width of the tooth to permitlimited rotation of said rotatable member relative to said fixed memberfor engagement of the release means of said rotatable member with thelatch means, the lock element in the direction of rotation of said fixedmember being moved out of the path of said tooth by engagement with theother release means so as to clear said tooth upon reverse rotation ofsaid rotatable member.

5. A vending control mechanism including, a ratchet wheel having widelyspaced peripheral teeth, a pair of opposed spring-pressed latch elementsengaging opposite sides of a ratchet tooth and coacting to hold thewheel against rotation in either direction, a rotatable member overlyingsaid wheel, a pair of spaced spring-pressed dogs mounted on the memberand adapted to confine another ratchet tooth therebetween so as toconnect said member to said wheel, the spacing of the dogs being greaterthan the width of the confined tooth to permit limited relative rotationof said member, a spring-pressed pawl mounted on said member forengaging and depressing one of the latch elements to disengage saidelement from the engaged tooth upon relative rotation of said member andpermit rotation of said wheel therewith, said latch elements beingengaged by and confining the adjacent ratchet tooth to limit rotation ofsaid wheel, and cam means engageable by one of said dogs for moving saiddog out of the path of said confined tooth upon a predetermined rotationand re-engagement of said latch elements so as to permit reverserotation of said member relative to said wheel, the other dog ridingover the adjacent tooth and the pawl riding over said latch element uponsuch reverse rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,069,881 Kellum Aug. 12, 1913

